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J. W. HERRON & W. L. HARDY.

Fire-Screen.

No 214,912. Patented April 29,1879.

sigjL. Sigh. WIJFUPESEE ITD/ETHUKS- UNITED STATES PATENT A OFF-ICE.

JOHN W. HERBON AND WILLIAM L. HARDY, OF PITTSBURG, PA.

IMPROVEMENT |N.FlRE-SCREENS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,912, dated April 29, 1879; application filed October 18, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W. HERRON and WILLIAM L. HARDY, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Screens; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved fire-screen when opened. Fig. 2 is a side view when closed; and Fig. 3 is a front view partially opened, when a portion of the case is broken away.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

Our invention relates to screens used in front of stoves, grates, fires, or other bright lights, for the purpose of shielding and protectin g the face and eyes or other parts of the body from the heat and light, which are often too intense 'for comfort, or for many other analogous purposes. These screens have heretofore been formed of frame-work made of light wood, and covered with some fabric capable of excluding the light and heat, such as cloth or paper. When large ones were made they were formed in sections, hinged together, and folded upon each other when not in use, and extended to cover or protect alarge space by opening out one of the sections. These styles of screens were objectionable in parlors and bed-rooms, because they were heavy and unwieldy and occupied too much room.

The object of our invention is to provide a fire-screen which is light, firm, occupies very little space when closed, and is an ornament to any room in which it is placed.

It consists in a case formed on a suitable stand, and provided with two fan portions or sets of extensible leaves, hinged or pivoted in the case at or near its base, and capable of bein g drawn out so as to form the screen, or folded into the case, as desired.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will describe its construction and operation.

In the drawings referred'to, A represents the base or stand, which is formed solid, and

may, if necessary, be slightly weighted to make the screen stand firm. Extending from the base A are the sides I) b and the center piece, a, which are connected at the top by the cover (I, forming the screen-case B. At

or near the base of the screen-case is the pivot or hinge-rod e, which extends through the case. Pivoted on the hinge-rod c are the fan portions F, which form the fire-screen. These fan portions are composed of a series of leaves, f, made of thin wood or other suitable material, narrow at the base, and gradually increasing in breadth to the top.

The leaves are connected together near the top by a suitable tape or cord, 17, in such a manner that they will fold upon each other when closed into the case, and when drawn out the edge of the leaves will slightly lap.

One end of the cord is attached to the case,

and the other provided with a tassel, g, or'

other suitable device, for drawing the screen out.

The center piece, 0, divides the case B into two compartments, into each of which a series of these leaves is adapted to fold, one extending out to the right and the other to the left of the case.

The fan portions F work entirely independcut, so that one may be drawn out While the other is left in the case. They may only be drawn partially out, so as to shade only the face, if desired, as they will remain in whatever position placed. If desired, the fan portions may be formed of any suitable woven material, folded so as to fit in the case, and provided with suitable braces to hold it in position.

The lower part of the case below the leaves may also be closed, or the case made solid to that height, and reduced in size or turned to shape. It may be ornamented in any desired way and with any fancy design, and may be formed of any wood or material proper for the purpose.

It will thus be seen that we form a handsome, neat, handy fire-screen, which can be easily adjusted to shade any part of the room, and yet permits the dissemination of the heat where necessary; also, one which, when closed, occupies but little space, and adds a handsome piece of furniture to the room.

What we claim as our invention, and desire In testimony whereof we, the said JOHN W. to secure by Letters Patent, is- HERRON and WILLIAM L. HARDY, have here- 1. The fire-screen formed of the stand A, unto set our hands. case B, and one or more fan portions, F, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. JOHN W. HERRON.

2. The fire-screen formed of the stand A, WILLIAM L. HARDY. case B, and the series of leaves f f, pivoted in the case at e, and connected by the cord 1' to Witnesses: the case, and adapted to be folded into the JAMES I. KAY, ease or drawn out, as desired, substantially as ISAAC G. SPROUL. and for the purposes set forth. 

